You’re in a luxury hotel’s lounge, somewhere on the Amalfi coast, at sunrise. The steam rises from the flavorful cup of coffee sitting on the table in front of you. But you’re not there (just) to relax; you’re about to hop on a Zoom call with one of your most important customers.
While you wait, you open the banking app to make a few payments. Then, take a quick glance at your investments. All these actions (talking shop with a customer, making payments, and checking finances) involve highly sensitive data that ill-intended actors would pounce on.
Knowing this, do you still feel comfortable using the hotel’s Wi-Fi? Cybersecurity experts strongly advise against using public networks without protection. Still, as a frequent traveler, sometimes you have no choice, right?
Not exactly. Even when there’s nothing else, you can still protect your data. Here’s how:
Pack a Travel Router
The last thing you’d want to pack for a luxury vacation at the beach is a router. But a travel router is a different kind of beast. It’s basically a pocket-sized version of your home Wi-Fi router, specifically engineered for mobility and security.
At the new location, you connect only the travel router to the hotel’s network. The device creates its own private, encrypted Wi-Fi bubble that you can then connect all your devices to without worrying about snoopers.
Get a Trusty VPN
Nowadays, there’s no reason to travel without a trusty VPN service in your toolkit. You can be in a train, on a plane, or lounging at the hotel pool, and nothing will stand between you and your digital activities.
A safe online access VPN service gives you the freedom to use any network, at any time, without losing protection. For maximum flexibility and mobility, choose a reliable service with a worldwide network of servers.
Extra tip: Choose a solution with a built-in Kill Switch feature. It will instantly cut your internet connection if the VPN drops, preventing leaked data from hitting the public airwaves unencrypted.
Use Encrypted DNS
Even with a VPN, DNS leaking can sometimes reveal which websites you are visiting to the network provider. To avoid accidental exposure, configure your browser or operating system to use DNS over HTTPS (DoH). This encrypts your DNS lookups (the process of turning a URL into an IP address).
Additionally, use a service like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or NextDNS. They provide a layer of privacy that prevents the hotel’s ISP from logging your browsing history for marketing or surveillance.
Hardware Security Keys for MFA
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a first step in the right direction, but when you’re using your devices for highly sensitive tasks, it’s best to be more guarded. Nowadays, SMS-based 2FA is less reliable due to cellular interception and SIM swapping.
The best way to boost security is with a physical security key (e.g., YubiKey) for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Even if a sophisticated attacker manages to scrape your login credentials via a compromised Wi-Fi portal, they cannot access your accounts without the physical token plugged into your device.
Safety First for Peace of Mind
Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, think about your device’s security. Hotel and lounge Wi-Fi networks may be convenient, but they are not the most secure. For your own peace of mind and financial well-being, take your own protection measures.
